loose skin after weight loss

Ryan70286 wrote: »

Any ideas on how to minimize loose skin when losing weight? I read that it depends a lot on diet, how much weight you need to lose and how fast you lose it. In addition, how long have you been overweight.

Greatly appreciate any ideas you have and thank you in advance.

I feel like it's genetics, I know people who have loss less weight then me and look allot worse. I'd say focus on lifting weights like I did so that you have muscle to fill out the skin as you lose the fat. (I went from 355lbs to 182lbs, currently I'm 219lbs I like to be around 200-220lbs)

The lotion thing is helpful apparently but I never used it, if you go down that road you can use any lotion from the dollar store.. it doesn't have to be $30 bio-oil (I had 3 doctors tell me so I believed them).

Something to think about too is that you might not like yourself really skinny or small. I did not like being a size small, it's just not for me ... I'm okay with a medium but prefer myself in a large. It's just where I feel like I look good I guess and I'm not freezing cold all the time!! (seriously always cold when I was super small it's the worst!!)

Unfortunately I think it is mostly determined by factors out of your control at this point (genetics, past weight history, how much you have to lose). So while drinking water, strength training, etc. might be slightly helpful and are good things to do anyway for other reasons, I don't think it's worth spending a lot of effort or money trying to avoid loose skin down the road. I don't really know of anyone that has lost 100+ pounds that hasn't had some amount of it, though some have it better or worse than others.

I'd say stick to the healthy habits you're doing and keep losing weight, and then address the skin issue when you get to that point.

projectsix wrote: »

Ryan70286 wrote: »

projectsix wrote: »

Genetics, length of time of being overweight, the degree or severity of how overweight you are, and your age are all factors that come into play. After losing 100 lbs and getting fit, I tried everything and nothing helped. Lotions, butters, laser treatments, waist wraps, ice baths, nothing helped. I ended up paying $6.4k for a "modified abdominoplasty" to remove the skin. Good luck!

Wow. That sounds painful how long did your body healed?

It was indeed one of the worst recoveries from any surgery ever, it was horrible. Essentially, they cut at the bottom of your stomach, open it up, sew your lower abdominals to the abdominal wall and re-shape them, then pull the skin tight, take off all the extra skin, sew up your old belly button hole and give you a new one (cause they pulled the skin down tight) and the skin is sewed really tight. I had to sleep seated for the first 7-10 days so that no stretching was put on the sutures. I had 2 drains in that had to be drained twice a day for fluid. You can imagine how brutal it is to try and do really ANYTHING. Even just reaching for something requires abdominals. I had to take a full 6 weeks from the gym and even now I can't feel the outside of my skin in my lower stomach because the nerves have been so damaged.

It's no joke and you have to really be mentally (and financially) prepared for such a surgery but there is nothing (currently) that will remove loose skin but surgery.

I had mine done in October 2006 and can still see the suture line, which bums me out. I see others who have had it and their scar is totally gone. Is yours?

Isn't it strange feeling your old belly button under your skin? It's a funny feeling when I touch where my OLD belly button used to be.

I'm 46 and 5'11" not exactly in my youth but feel 21, I've lost 140lb and 91 of those in the last 12 months, now down to 158lb and very happy with a vmi of 22.
I surprisingly have been left with very little lose skin, just a tiny bit on my belly which Pilates is taking care of very well.

Over time that loose skin will tighten up, it takes a while....exercise /strength training really helps.

For me, I think age, genetics, and being overweight most of my life played the biggest part in how my skin has responded. I lost 75lbs over the course of about 18 months, and have kept it off for over a year now. I have loose skin on my upper arms, upper/inner thighs, and tummy. It's not as significant as many others I've seen. I will say that losing it slowly and strength training have helped considerably. Also, time as helped a lot. As I continue to workout and improve my fitness, the skin seems to be drawing up. However, it will never be as tight and smooth as I would like. It doesn't show in clothes and doesn't restrict my life in any way (no sores or restricted movement), so I don't plan on any surgery. I can live with being the best version of me that I can achieve through healthy eating and exercise. No judgement to those who have the surgery though!! I totally respect that option and know that many people really need it!! Much luck as you move forward!

I lost 70lbs quite quickly but I'm lucky I have non loose skin. I'm in my late twenties and didn't do anything to prevent it, probably just have good genetics and got lucky.

It's just going to happen, and it's okay. If it bothers you, you can have it taken care of later. Being healthy is so worth the loose skin

With every client I've ever had that lost 80lbs or more, loose skin was inevitable. There are no lotions, creams, wraps, etc. that deter it from happening because these are only TOPICAL solutions and deal only with the epidermis. The issue deals with all the layers of the skin and not just the epidermis. One could wait to see if the skin retracts, but if it doesn't happen in a year, it's probably not going to happen.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

I lost my first 50-60 lbs with no obvious loose skin, however, the last 10-20 lbs took a real toll on some areas. When I started to move to maintenance, I started working on push ups and planks, with some other strength and resistance work, in addition to running. I started using Bio Oil once or twice a day (if I remembered) and I gained about 5lbs back. I am in my early thirties.

Six months on and I am a lot happier with my skin, which seems to have retracted/filled out somewhat. I can't recommend a programme which will prevent or fix your problems and I do not know which of the methods contributed to my improvements or to what extent, but you could try:

• Strength training while you are losing and afterwards
• Bio Oil (I have also had previous good experience with Bio Oil on damaged skin). It doesn't penetrate the lower layers of your skin, but it seemed to improve appearance. It is expensive, but I usually get it cheaper at a budget store, rather than a high street pharmacy.
• Time
• Learning to appreciate what you've got, because your achievements are literally amazing